ch 17 back in time
Avey POV...
Avey sat on her bed, the room completely dark except for the faint glow from the moon seeping through the curtains. Her heart pounded relentlessly in her chest, a dull ache that had become all too familiar over the years. She stared blankly at the ceiling, her hollow eyes blinking slowly, feeling lost in a whirlpool of emotions she couldn't quite grasp.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind, breaking through the silence:
"You will get the chance to go back in time. Do you want to take it or not? Answer in 30 minutes yes or no."
The voice sounded mechanical, emotionless, yet it resonated so clearly in her head that it startled her. For a moment, Avey thought she was hallucinating. The years of regret and grief had taken such a toll on her that she assumed this must be another one of her mind's cruel tricks. I must be losing it, she thought, not even bothering to look around or search for the source of the voice.
Her face remained emotionless, her eyes distant, as she smiled bitterly at the notion of going back in time. Do I deserve to go back? The thought hung heavy in her mind. If only she could return to those days before she had made all those terrible mistakes. The voice felt like a distant whisper of a dream a dream that could never come true.
"Yes," she whispered quietly into the darkness, not expecting anything. Her voice was laced with regret, a hollow acceptance of what she thought would never be.
But as soon as the word left her lips, everything around her began to blur. The darkness of her room, the quiet stillness it all faded into a swirl of colors and indistinct shapes. What is happening? Her heart raced as confusion took over. Her surroundings twisted and spun until, suddenly, everything snapped back into focus.
She wasn't in her room anymore.
Avey blinked in shock. The dim lighting of her room was replaced by the bustling sounds of people, the clinking of glasses and silverware, the muffled conversations of diners all around her. She looked down at her hands, feeling the smooth texture of the tablecloth beneath them. Her breath quickened as her mind tried to process what was happening.
"Am I dreaming?" she asked herself, turning her head from side to side, taking in the elegant decor of the restaurant. Wasn't I just in my room? What is this place?And then it hit her the voice. It said something about going back in time… didn't it? Her heart pounded even harder, and she trembled with a mixture of excitement and fear.
"Please… don't let this be a dream." Her thoughts were frantic. Please, God, don't torture me with something like this if it's not real. The pain of losing Lucian had been too much to bear in her last life, and if this was just another trick, another dream meant to torment her, she didn't know if she could handle it.
Her hands moved to pinch her thighs, and she winced at the sharp pain. It's real. I'm really here. Avey heart raced even faster, and tears of relief welled up in her eyes. This is it. This is my second chance. She had prayed for this moment, begged for the chance to undo the terrible mistakes she had made, to take back all the hurt she had caused.
As she glanced around, her heart tightened with familiarity. This is the hotel… the same one where Lucian had to invited me.Her breath hitched as memories flooded back the day she had been so cruel,dismissing him in favor of another man, Victor. She remembered asking Victor to join her at the table, hoping it would finally send Lucian a clear message that she wasn't interested in him again.She hadn't realized then how much damage she had done, how deeply she had hurt him. But now… now I know.
She looked up and saw Victor, sitting across from her, his usual charming smile on his face. his presence felt suffocating. Avey's just looked at him. Her mind was elsewhere focused entirely on Lucian. She looked around hurriedly, her heart thumping with nervous anticipation. She knew he would be here soon he had to be.
And then she saw him.
Lucian stood far from the tables, almost hidden in the shadows, his tall, handsome figure dressed impeccably in a suit. He held a bouquet of flowers, the rare and beautiful Kadupul, the ones he had painstakingly try to give her at this day but she remembered what she had done with those not wanting to remember it now. His face was stoic, a sharp contrast to the hopeful, loving expression she remembered from before.
Avey's heart nearly stopped. There he is. My Lucian.The tears that had welled up in her eyes finally spilled over, streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.She had missed him so much. The pain of losing him had been unbearable, and now, here he was, standing just a few feet away. She didn't care if this was real or not. All she wanted was to drink in the sight of him, to memorize every detail of his face, to never forget him again.
But something was wrong.
Lucian eyes met hers, but they were cold, emotionless.Gone was the warmth, the love that had always radiated from him. Instead, all she saw in his gaze was a deep, unsettling indifference. Her breath caught in her throat, and her chest tightened painfully. He's different. Avey's heart twisted with guilt and regret. Is he… angry with me? Of course, he would be. After everything she had done to him, how could he not be?
She looked to Victor, who was still sitting across from her, oblivious to the emotional storm she was drowning in. Avey's mind raced. What have I done at that time? She wanted to scream, to tell Victor to leave, to apologize to Lucian, to beg him to forgive her for everything. But her body wouldn't move. She was frozen, trapped in her own regret.
Lucian's cold eyes bore into her as he glanced briefly at Victor, then back at her.His lips curled into a small, mocking smile, as if to say, This is who you chose over me.
Avey's heart shattered at that moment.Her entire body trembled, and more tears flowed down her face. No… it wasn't supposed to be like this. She had thought she was doing the right thing, pushing him away so he could move on. But instead, she had destroyed him.she just didn't understood it in her past
She destroyed them both.
Victor noticed her distress and quickly stood, rushing to her side. He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently as he asked,"Avey? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"His voice was filled with concern, but Avey couldn't hear him. She couldn't hear anything except the sound of her own heart breaking.
She tried to speak, tried to call out to Lucian, but nothing came out. Her voice was trapped, just like her body.All she could do was stare at Lucian as he turned away from her, his mocking smile still haunting her.
Lucian began to walk away.
Her mind screamed, No! Don't go! Come back! Please! But her body refused to move.She watched helplessly as Lucian disappeared from her sight, walking out of the hotel and out of her life once again.
Avey's entire body shook as she continued to cry, her tears falling like a waterfall, her hands trembling uncontrollably.She had lost him again, and this time, she knew exactly how much it hurt.
But still, she couldn't move.She couldn't speak. All she could do was sit there, drowning in the overwhelming sadness of knowing that she was the reason he was gone.
She had prayed for this second chance, and now that she had it, she realized that the weight of her mistakes might be too much to bear.
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ch 18 first step
lucian exited the hotel with light steps, the bouquet of rare Kadupul flowers hanging limply from his hand their once-precious value now meaningless His heart felt as if it had been weighed down by lead, the emptiness in his chest mirroring the hollow look in his eyes.He barely noticed the curious glances from passersby, the way they quietly observed him with pity.To the outside world he looked like a young man whose heart had just been broken rejected by the one he'd hoped to impress.
the flowers,once meant to symbolize his love and dedication, now swung loosely at his side,as if they too had lost their purpose.
He walked past the bustling street with his head slightly down every step feeling heavier than the last.the noise of the world around him chatter, cars, the clinking of glasses from nearby cafes faded into a distant hum,leaving Lucian lost in his own thoughts.His once-straight posture the confident air he used to carry, was gone, replaced by a man who had lost not just a love but the belief in love itself
Ring ring..
The sudden sound of his phone broke through his thoughts Lucian's eyes shifted down, confused. He reached into his pocket, pulling out the phone, staring at the screen for a moment.
Mom.
The name blinked on the screen. His mother. In his last life, she rarely called him unless it was something transactional, something she needed from him. Not once did she call to check in on him out of concern, out of love. And certainly not at this point in time this was the moment when she was too consumed with her own life to care about her son's feelings.He could still remember the sting of her indifference, the subtle jabs, and how it had chipped away at him over the years.
Lucian footsteps slowed until he came to a complete stop.He stared at the phone for a moment longer, his hand hovering over the screen. His breath hitched slightly. Should I answer?The thought crossed his mind, but he shook his head. No, I know how this goes.
His thumb swiped across the screen, not to answer, but to silence it.Without hesitation, Lucian walked over to a nearby trash can, the phone still vibrating weakly in his hand. Without a second thought, he tossed the phone into the bin, hearing the soft thud as it hit the bottom.
"There we go. Let's start with cutting ties with all the toxic people," he muttered to himself. His voice was low but determined.For years, he had held on, hoping foolishly that things would change, that somehow his family would love him the way he had always loved them. But now, standing here, back in time with the knowledge of what was to come, Lucian had made his first real choice.
No more hoping. No more waiting. No more suffering.
The few people who saw him throw his phone away exchanged glances but said nothing.In this part of the city, everyone was too well-off to bother digging through the trash, and none of them cared enough to intervene.To them, it was just another person with his own drama.
lucian felt a weight lift off his chest as if that simple action had cut one of the chains holding him down.For the first time in a long while,
he felt free.
he spread his arms wide as if embracing the fresh air, the bouquet still in hand."Now I feel lighter…"He whispered to himself, a small, bitter smile tugging at his lips."I don't have to answer to anyone anymore No obligations, no missions Just me."
For the first time, there was no weight of expectation or pressure.No more playing the part of the obedient son,the dutiful brother,or the lovesick fool.Lucian felt the strange sensation of freedom, the kind that came with knowing he owed no one anything.
With a sense of newfound purpose, Lucian walked toward the parking lot of the hotel. It had been years since he'd driven this particular car, but memories flooded back.He scanned the rows of luxury vehicles until his eyes landed on a sleek black beauty parked at the far end.
A smile tugged at his lips as he approached it, his fingers already itching to touch the gleaming surface."How could I forget you?"he murmured as his hand brushed against the side of the car.
The car before him was a raven black 1966 Ford Mustang convertible,the paint so polished that it reflected the sky above Lucian chuckled softly to himself,recalling how he and Jimmy had spent countless hours modifying this masterpiece.It was more than just a car it was a piece of art, something they had poured their hearts intoThe roar of its engine,the smoothness of its ride, and the power it held beneath the hood had always thrilled him.
"God, it feels good to see you again," he whispered as his hand ran along the car's body. His fingers felt the smooth metal, and an electric excitement ran through him.
Lucian hopped into the car, not bothering to open the door. He vaulted into the driver's seat over the side, landing smoothly as he dropped into the plush leather. The top was already down, so he could feel the sun on his face, the slight breeze ruffling his hair. He tossed the bouquet onto the passenger seat carelessly, like a memory he was trying to forget.
As soon as he inserted the key into the ignition, the engine roared to life Furrr…Kachh kachh kurrr, the deep, guttural sound of the Mustang's engine echoed through the lot reverberating off the concrete walls. It wasn't just any sound it was the sound of raw power, the kind of roar that turned heads and made hearts race.
Lucian couldn't help but grin.That sound it was the only thing that could make him feel alive right now.He pressed his foot on the gas, and the engine responded with a thunderous boom that sent a shiver down his spine.
People turned to stare,their eyes wide with envy and awe as the car's deep rumble filled the air. Men passing by paused, unable to tear their eyes away from the black beauty their faces painted with admiration.
lucian gripped the steering wheel, feeling the vibrations from the engine beneath him.His mind was no longer clouded with the thoughts of betrayal and lost love For this brief moment, it was just him and the car a rare escape from the storm inside his head.
"Lets go for a ride, shall we?"he muttered to the car, his smile widening as he revved the engine one last time. He didn't care where he was headed, didn't care about the past or the future. Right now, he was in control, and it felt damn good.
He pulled out of the lot, the Mustang's tires squealing as they hit the pavement.The car roared onto the street, the engine singing a symphony of power and freedom.As Lucian sped down the road the wind whipping through his hair, he couldn't help but laugh.
For the first time he felt like he could breathe.
No more toxic people.No more heartbreak.No more living for others.
Just him, his car and the open road ahead.